FC Bayern also slipped up in the Bundesliga title race, but still maintained the lead over Borussia Dortmund. In the first game after the 3-0 loss at Manchester City, Munich only drew 1-1 (1-0) against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and are two points ahead of BVB. The Revierclub gambled away a lead of 2-0 and 3-2 at relegation-threatened VfB Stuttgart on Saturday and conceded the 3-3 (2-0) in added time.
RB Leipzig pushed past 1. FC Union Berlin in third place with the 3: 2 (3: 1) against FC Augsburg. FSV Mainz 05 kept their European Cup chances with a 1-1 (1-0) win at 1. FC Köln.
Four days before the quarter-final second leg in the Champions League against Man City, Munich could not gain self-confidence and showed another disappointing performance. Benjamin Pavard (15th minute) scored the early lead for coach Thomas Tuchel’s team, but Andrej Kramaric (71st) equalized with a direct free kick. Another hit by Pavard was disallowed for offside.
For a long time it looked like an easy Dortmund victory. Sébastian Haller (26′) and Donyell Malen (33′) scored for BVB, after the yellow-red card from defender Konstantinos Mavropanos (39′), Stuttgart played more than a half with ten men. But VfB equalized through Tanguy Coulibaly (78′) and Josha Vagnoman (84′). In added time, BVB first celebrated the 3-2 through Giovanni Reyna (90.3), but Silas (90.7) destroyed Dortmund’s hopes of drawing level with Bayern on points. The Swabians are still unbeaten under their new coach Sebastian Hoeneß and are in the relegation zone.
Leipzig fell behind early due to Arne Maier’s goal (5th), but quickly recovered from the setback. Kevin Kampl (10th) and Timo Werner (32nd/35th) scored twice for the RB victory, Ruben Vargas (82nd) ??scored the 2: 3 from the guests’ point of view. The Saxons are third at least until Sunday, Union can overtake again with a draw against VfL Bochum.
With the ninth league game without defeat, Mainz stays close to the European Cup places. Ludovic Ajorque (17th) even gave the guests hope of victory, but Cologne’s Dejan Ljubicic (51st) made it 1-1.
